Full back Blair had already booted two penalties and converted all three of his side’s tries, Mosese Luveitasau and Tom Shanklin grabbing the others, in a 17-point haul. The Blues had recalled Welsh internationals Shanklin, Nick Robinson, Robert Sidoli and Mike Phillips to help get back to winning ways after two narrow defeats. It took just five minutes for Phillips to make his mark, his burst leading to the first of two penalties for Blair in the opening quarter, but it was young centre Tom Riley who created the first try, delaying his pass for Blair to scorch through.
The Blues dominated almost every area of the game but indiscipline allowed Dan Parks to claw Glasgow back to 13-9 six minutes into the second half. Luveitasau gave the Blues breathing space on 54 minutes. Shanklin leapt highest for Robinson’s hefty kick and the Fijian wing darted past three front rowers to score in the corner.
Shanklin then grabbed the Blues third, crashing onto Robinson’s lateral pass to score near the posts to clinch the victory. Chris Czekaj came agonisingly close to grabbing the bonus point in the final minute but knocked on as he dived for Nick Macleod’s kick ahead.
